Published: Tuesday, July 2, 2013 at 5:18 p.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, July 2, 2013 at 5:18 p.m.

Sheriff Chris Blair on Tuesday attempted to make the case for new taxes to fix shortages in his patrol force and to replace aging vehicles, arguing that public safety would suffer if the deficiencies were not resolved quickly.

Blair appeared before the board after submitting a budget several weeks ago that includes a $17.4 million increase in spending, which would boost property tax rates for landowners. In recent weeks, he has also launched a public relations campaign asking supporters to back a new half-cent sales tax to support the department's needs.

"As a taxpayer myself, I could not in good faith support such an increased burden on the taxpayers of our community," Blair said of the spending hike, which he referred to as "unprecedented."

But leaving the "challenges" before him unattended, the sheriff added, would "adversely impact our ability to provide mandatory service to our community."

Some commissioners were unconvinced by the sheriff's presentation, as well as the pleas of several of his supporters, who urged the board to trust Blair and grant his request.

Like several weeks ago when he first presented his budget, Blair received a chilly reception from the commission, which has legislative authority over the Sheriff's Office's budget.

Commissioners Stan McClain and David Moore both said publicly they could not support Blair's budget as proposed.

They and other commissioners expressed some doubts about parts of Blair's budget and tried to get him to explain which requests were critical and which ones were not.

Blair sought to paint a cause-and-effect picture for the board.

He cited the oft-repeated statistic that Marion County is below the state average in the ratio of deputies per population, adding that he would need to hire 268 new officers just to catch up to the state average.

Hiring and retaining personnel, however, was problematic because Marion County's $28,600 starting annual salary for new deputies is among the lowest for sheriff's departments around the state — and nearly $8,000 a year below the Ocala Police Department.

Blair noted that the shortage of deputies often left areas unprotected, lengthened response times, left some crimes unsolved and was responsible for the accumulation of $10 million in owed sick, vacation and compensatory leave.

Blair explained that two-thirds of the agency's 265 patrol vehicles have more than 100,000 miles, and he expressed concern that some cars might break down in a high-speed chase or en route to a service call.

Meanwhile, Blair dismissed a recent state report that showed crime rates were falling in Marion County. That report showed that so-called "index" crimes, the most serious felonies, had dropped 16 percent in unincorporated Marion County between 2011 and 2012.

But Blair pointed out that murders and sex crimes over the first five months of 2013 were outpacing rates from the same period a year ago, and that property crimes were increasingly unsolved.

"The liability of safety is looming in the air," said Blair, reminding the commissioners that it was their responsibility to approve the Sheriff's Office's budget.

"The priority of public safety must be addressed," he added. "We — you and I — are the ones responsible for the safety of our deputies and corrections officers as well as the citizens of this community."

Blair then proposed that the board take a "serious look" at a half-cent sales tax for public safety for the 2014 ballot — essentially ending speculation that he would seek such an election on the city of Ocala's ballot for November.

That, Blair told the commission, "would assist all of us in helping our community."

Commissioners answered Blair's claims with some concerns of their own.

Commissioner Carl Zalak observed that a sales tax would not help the sheriff hire new deputies because sales tax money cannot be spent on personnel by law.

"We have to start somewhere," Blair answered.

Chairwoman Kathy Bryant said she was confused by Blair's presentation, which showed the agency had 265 patrol vehicles for 142 patrol deputies, and questioned whether he prioritized who got the most reliable cars.

Blair responded that patrol deputies received the newer cars the agency had acquired last year under former Sheriff Ed Dean.

McClain, in a pointed exchange with Blair, noted that Blair's proposed budget, offered a month ago with its 26 percent jump in new spending, had left him speechless.

"I didn't know what to say," McClain said. "This isn't how you work together."

"While technically you haven't asked for a tax increase," McClain said, "by presenting a budget that the only way to fund it is with a tax increase, I don't know how you expect the County Commission to look at it any other way. If we're going to meet that obligation, were going to have to raise taxes.

"I think it's unfair for you to say I haven't asked for a tax increase. You certainly have asked for a tax increase," McClain said. "This county commissioner is not going to vote for a $17 million increase in your budget."

Commissioner Earl Arnett told Blair perhaps he should consider hosting a fundraiser as a way to generate revenue for new vehicles.

Although he did not speak during Blair's presentation, Commissioner Moore also rejected new taxes.

"This economy is not the time, especially being the Great Recession, to be looking at additional taxation," Moore said.

He suggested that consolidating services was perhaps a better way to go.

Blair is expected to again appear before the board on July 9, when commissioners further vet his 2014 budget, which kicks in on Oct. 1.

Blair pledged to return at that time with his five-year plans for new personnel and vehicles.

Contact Bill Thompson at 867-4117 or bill.thompson@starbanner.com.

Reader comments posted to this article may be published in our print edition. All rights reserved. This copyrighted material may not be re-published without permission. Links are encouraged.